P laye rs P laye rs

N E W
Z E A L A N D ’ S
H I G H
F I D E L I T Y
M A G A Z I N E
Move over
Superman
Sonic’s here!
May 1996
New Zealand’s
Top
C
D
CD
Players
Jim’s page
PLINIUS AMPLIFIERS – Now New Zealand’s top
Plinius shop for two consecutive years. We are proud of our association with this very successful New Zealand amplifier manufacturer.
If you are considering a new
amplifier let us show you that
a Plinius will out-perform any other amplifier in their price range
in every respect! You be the judge! We have a full range in
stock now and will arrange a professional demonstration wherever you live. Send for the latest reviews and information on
new products. Listen and be touched by the music. Visit the
Plinius web site at http://nz.com/webnz/audible/plinius.htm
180 gram Vinyl
Send for our 180 gram catalogue of this amazing range
of reissued music. Titles
from RCA Living Stereo,
Verve, Decca, Analogue
Productions, Mobile
Fidelity, DCC and more.
We have most titles in
stock at all times and
respond to orders immediately,
If you’re a vinyl lover
please support us so
that we can keep providing a full up-to-date
range of the latest
reissues.
We stock:
Aerial • Arcam • Audiolab • B&W • Cyrus • Dynavector • Harman
Kardon • Kimber Kable • Lambert • Meridian • Micromega • Mission •
Monster Cable • NAD • Plinius • Quad • Shahinian • Siltech • Sound
Creations • Tannoy. Wanted: Used turntables in good condition
Jim’s Music Room
76b Grey Street Tauranga
Freepost PO Box 13119 Tauranga
Phone 0800 FOR HIFI
That’s 0800 367 4434
AERIAL ACOUSTICS
Jim’s Music Room has been
appointed New Zealand’s exclusive
distributor of the Aerial Loudspeaker
range. Designed and built in
Boston, USA by Michael Kelly,
these highly regarded speakers
will amaze. if you’re thinking of
buying a new set of loudspeakers
give them a careful audition.
Reviews available from Fi,
Stereophile and The Absolute
Sound.
S I LTECH CA B LES
The Siltech Challenge – compare
Siltech Cables with any other
cables! Siltech will outperform
the competition in neutrality,
resolution, warmth and overall
musicality.
New – Siltech mains cable. You’ll
be amazed at the difference
(available in custom lengths).
Home of Hi-Fi
and Good Music
Contact us today and join our
mailing list - you’ll love our style!
FRONT PIECE
Welcome
AudioEnz is published by
AudioVideo Publications Limited,
PO Box 100-554, North Shore
Mail Centre, Auckland 10.
Ph 0-9-479 7843. Fax 0-9-478 6303.
e-mail [email protected].
Editor is Mike Jones
All contents are © copyright to
AudioVideo Publications Limited 1996.
to the first issue of AudioEnz.
So let me tell you about AudioEnz – what it is and what you can
expect from AudioEnz in the future.
Many of you will have read AudioVideo magazine, the hi-fi magazine I had published since the last months of 1986. Well, all good
things must come to an end (except the use of cliches, perhaps?) and,
as it became financially unviable, the final AudioVideo was published
in August 1995.
So here we are at the end of May with a new hi-fi magazine.
AudioEnz is not AudioVideo, nor is it like any other hi-fi magazine
I’ve ever come across.
The basis of AudioEnz is fun. Music is fun – it’s enjoyable to listen
to. I believe that hi-fi too should be fun, but very often it’s a poohfaced, ultra-serious activity. AudioEnz writers definitely don’t take
themselves seriously – they only take their music seriously.
You won’t find normal hi-fi reviews in AudioEnz. I read a lot of
hi-fi magazines, and find less and less of interest to read as each issue
comes out. Here’s a review of a boring black box, followed by another review of a boring black box ad nauseam.
Instead, in AudioEnz you will find plenty of comment and opinions on hi-fi and related (and some unrelated!) subjects, but in a
much more interesting commentary system. Have a read of this issue
and the next (due July 20) and tell me what you think.
I’m very interested in what you want (and don’t want to see) in
AudioEnz. Should we embrace home theatre, or avoid it altogether,
concentrating on music. Do you want to see coverage of some of the
esoterica available? How about tube amplifiers? Tweaks? Budget
wonders? Give me opinion (contact details are at left)
And speaking of opinions, what are the best record stores out
there. The hi-fi hobby is fuelled by the purchase of music, but the
quality of record stores fluctuates wildly. Let’s put together a listing
of the good record stores around the country, so we all can know
where we can shop with confidence. Give us your thoughts by letter,
fax or e-mail (addresses are to the left) and we’ll publish the results
in the July issue.
In the meantime, enjoy your music.
Mike Jones
Editor
3
NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS
DYNACO’S BACK!
Dynaco were one of the names of
the tube era in the USA, and now
they ’re back with a range of tube
and solid state amplifiers, plus
a CD player.
The Stereo 80
power amplifier (pictured) retails for
a round $3495, while
the Stereo 160 retails
for around $4195.
Feedback
Audio
0-3-548 4068.
ACCUPHASE
ONE-BOX CD
The Accuphase
DP-55 uses three
20-bit D/A convertors operating
in parrellel, and
offers both digital
outputs and
inputs. Denco
Audio
0-3-379 0743.
NEW PROACS
VA LV E “ G E N E S I S ”
Audible Valve Technologies,
based in Hamilton, have announced
their first amplifier. The Genesis is
an integra ted va lve/mosfet design,
ex pected to retail for around $1699.
Internal wiring is all point-to-point,
with top quality components used
t h ro u ghout. On the way from the
company are a 100Wpc integrated,
and three and five channel amplifiers for home theatre. Audible Valve
Technologies 0-7-839 7473
4
The original Proac
Tablette was released in
1979 and became
rega rded as a miniture
classic. 1996 sees the
newest veriosn, the
Tablette 50. The 50
includes a 5'' polycarbon woofer and a 3⁄4''
soft dome tweeter and
retails for around
$1795.
A much larger floorstanding model is the
Studio 150. At just over
t h ree feet high and seven
inches wide, the Studio
150 is around $3995. PQ
Imports 0-7-886 4149.
REL have a new subwoofer in their
range that reflects a change in direction from heir other produ cts. The
Stealth su bwoofer has the bass drive
mounted on the front of the cabinet,
rather than underneath, which
en a bles the Stealth to be placed in a
cabinet if desired. The Stealth is
a round $1499. Big Ears Audio 0-9379 3801.
Want to upgrade your CD player? One option is the Little Bit 3 digital-to-analogue convertor from DPA.
The Little Bit 3 has optical and coaxial inputs, plus a digital output as
well, and retails for around $999. Big
Ears Audio 0-9-379 3801.
Coming out shortly from those
analogue fanatics at REGA is a CD
p l ayer! Although not yet released,
the as-yet unnamed CD player is
due out within the foreseeable
future. Big Ears Audio 0-9-379 3801.
Calling a phono cartridge the
Exact cre a tes high ex pectati on s , but
REGA have a good reputation for their
cartri d ge s . This on e , Rega’s top cartridge, will retail for around $1000.
Big Ears Audio 0-9-379 3801.
Recen t ly purchased by the Verity
Group (owners of Mission and
Wharfedale), Q UA D continue releasing produ cts in their new 77 Series.
Available now are the 85 watt integrated amplifier, an 85 watt stereo
power amplifier with both Quadbus or mains powered CD players.
Ex pected shortly are the 77 pre a mplifier, complete with phono stage,
and a 150 watt power amplifier
called the 707. Denco Audio 0-3-379
0743.
MERIDIAN h ave received considerable acclaim for their 565 Digital
Theatre controller, as much for its
musical properties as for home theatre. Their new 541 Surround Sound
Co n troller places home theatre
attributes – such as Dolby Surround
and video swi tching – in a conventional pre a m p. Denco Audio 0-3379 0743.
Lost in a world of speakers? Then
you may need a Compass from
SHAHINIAN. “Not
another re-invention
of the wheel” is how the importer
describes this 200mm squ a re co lumn with a diamond shaped baffle.
Denco Audio 0-3-379 0743.
RUNCO have produ ced profe s s i onal video projector systems for over
decade. Their new CinemaPro 750 is
de s i gn ed to bring their state-of-theart engineering and rugged construction of projectors into the
home. Denco Audio 0-3-379 0743.
SUNFIRE is the name of a series of
amplifier developed by Bob Carver.
In addition to the stereo amplifier
that has ga i n ed some po s i tive pre s s
overseas, Su n f i re have now released
a five-ch a n n el power amplifier with
200 watts per channel. Denco Audio
0-3-379 0743.
CALIFORNIA AUDIO LABS
have
announced a new version of their
Icon compact disc player. The Icon
MkII HDCD incorpora tes the
Pacific Microsonics HDCD filter for
decoding HDCD discs and handselected Burr- Brown 1702 20-bit
D/A processors. Oceania Audio 0-9849 3114.
No ted tube amplifier manufactu rer VTL have released a new range
of amplifiers. The MB125 are 125
watt triode swi tch a ble monobl ock s
(55 watts in triode)There are also
the MB175 Signature, MB450
Signatu re and MB550 Signatu re, all
switch a ble to lower-powered triode
mode. The MB250 Signature is a 250
watt pure triode monoblock. Top
model of the new amps is the Wotan
MB1250 Signatu re - 1250 watts triode swi tchable monoblocks (600
watts in triode). PQ Imports 0-7886 4149.
New Zealand amplifier manufacturer PERREAUX h ave a new range of
amplifiers due out real soon now.
The SM6 pre a m p l i f i er is a balanced
line level remote controlled preamp.
The Model 175, Model 250 and
Model 350 are stereo power amplifiers with the rated watts (8 ohms)
indicated by the model number. 09-623 1244.
NEW CHRISTCHURCH STORE
KEN’S SIGNATURE
Ken Is h iwata is the tweak-king behind much of
Ma rantz’s su ccess with CD players and amplifiers over
recent ye a rs . Ma rantz are now introducing a Si gnature
s eries of produ cts, i n cluding the Ma rantz CD-63SE KISignature. Based on the standard CD-63SE, the
Si gn a tu re inclu des a hefty toroidal mains transformer
with high purity copper windings, a stren g t h en ed, copper- p l a ted chassis and an improved output stage.
Marantz New Zealand 0-9-849 7813
The Listening Post have opened a
store in Chri s tchurch Ma n n ed by
Ian and Paul, their ad d ress is 151
Hi gh Street, with phone and fax
number 0-3-377 7299. They’re open
10am-5.30pm wee k d ays, with late
night (’till 7pm) Fri d ay, and
10am–2.30pm Saturday.
NAD NEWS
A number of new products from NAD, including the 218 THX power amplifier shown above.
The 218’s ($2499) de s i gn goals were perform a n ce and reliability. It is de s i gned to drive even
unreasonable spe a ker loads with its 200 watts (8 ohms) power rating. The 218 can also be
bridged for 400 watts into 8 ohms.
NAD’s latest receiver, the 712, is a combination of the 312 amplifier and 412 tuner in the one
chassis, with the addition of remote control. The 712 retails for an attractive price of $699. HiFi Marketing 0-9-415 9099
5
T H E S O N I C G L A D I AT O R
…and a cast of Thousands
S H R I N K T H E WA LL E T A N D S W E LL T H E E GO
T
he Toss 1000 loudspeaker, (or Tossie
Thou, as it is more lovingly known)
is the latest aural offering from
British audio giant, Evasoclevah.
Re aders will already be familiar with
the “Clevah Tro u s ers” range of amplifiers
f rom this manufacturer, all of which
sound like the very bowels of Hell, but
come with a comprehen s ive 800 page
m a nual detailing how spending $6000 on
a bollocky piece of rot with no knobs,
lights, or known use, will make you the
most clever, and popular, man alive.
Personal hygiene standards aside.
“After all,” as the manual concludes, “So
much patronising. So little time.”
But I digress.
The Toss 1000 is con s tructed from the
usual dazzling co llection of amalgams,
polym ers, and qu a s a rs , plucked from the
periodic table, and some of that cool stuff
Arnold’s foe was made of in Terminator 2.
The manual explains all this in enough
loving detail to keep even the most bedandruffed quantum mechanic up at
night toying with the bunsen burner.
Evasoclevah are to be com m ended on
their attempt to cater to the needs of the
nineties audio enthusiast in tod ay ’s
global, tribal, run around the village waving bits of rain
forest between the
cheeks of your
dolphin-adoring bottom, political cl i m a te , by
releasing all their new products in a range
of user-friendly options.
The Tossies are even available in the
“Love , peace , and mung be a n s” model,
6
which features a tie-dyed front grill, and
And very delicious it was too! The
plays only Cat Stevens. Far out man.
superlatives, cliches, and melodramatic
I chose to try the soft, fluffy cabinet, met a ph ors fair dri pped, h on ey-like, from
model. Now you don’t have to hesitate my biro.
before giving the stereo a bit of hot lovin’
Bass response was a joy. Cuddling these
wh en the mood is right and the lights are fluffy lavender babies had my pelvis
low.
thrumming in low frequency heaven. Such
As recommended, I rem oved several was the precision, that at one parti c u l a rly
key walls from my lovingly re s tored bu n- orgasmic peak, I am quite sure I heard one
ga l ow with plastique, and suspended of the kettle-drumming friars gently humex act ly twenty seven orbital sanders from ming ‘You make me feel like a natural
the living room ceiling whilst scattering woman’.
party gl i t ter stra tegically about the room
I could be mistaken.
for that optimum listening environment.
Higher frequ encies are handled by the
With my hair newly styl ed in an inter- high er frequency handling thingy, which
esting
bu f font,
did
a
simply
selected from severtremendous job of
al nifty hair-dos
making the higher
I became the “Sonic
that have been
frequ encies sound
adopted to take
really quite high.
Gladiator” – a brooding
the hi-fi industry
Yes, they were
i n to the twenty- juggernaut of pace, rhythm high. Nearly as high
first century, I
as the highest, high
became the “Sonic
thing on the highand trying to show off
Glad i a tor” – a
est, high hill in
brooding juggerthe Hi ghlands of
n a ut of pace, rhythm and trying to show Scotland. They were not low. No they
off, Ni etzsch e’s Ubermensch, defender of weren’t.
all things expensive and idiosyncratic. And
I have no reco ll ecti on of life before the
I wore my favourite Toss 1000s. They are me. They shine. They
corduroys.
shimmy. They make me feel big and clever.
Re ady to rock? And I must have them.
Ready to roll? Ready
Six squillion dollars seems a small price
to take off your dun- to pay for such a ch a n ce to impress the
garees and roll world at large, and if anyone thinks the
a round in the sand- mon ey would be bet ter spent on brin gi n g
pit naked? Let’s go my musical co llection and tastes into the
listening!
twentieth century, they’ve got another
think coming. Oh yes indeedy!
(Incidentally, the packaging is cleverly
designed to fit snugly down the front of
your bri efs to furt h er impress the wom en
folk.)
Obviously, the Toss 1000 loudRe a lly, it all comes back to the love of
spe a kers are designed with the true, music, and essentially, a nything that has
h a rd - core, “Go on love , you know you been heard by more than 15 individuals
want to see my pre-amp”, audiophile in on the face of the planet, is far too crass
mind, and the first offering to my CD and commercial to be considered de
p l ayer had to be the Francescan Kettle rigueur by those of us in the know, and I
Drum Quartet’s rendition of Ivor propose that everyone except myself and
Pu l p u d s ky’s Opus in E Trichlodiddlion others who refer to their stereo as “the
Mi n o r, recorded in a lost Baroque chu rch hi-fi” be bludgeoned in their beds.
in the At l a n tis Town Ha ll at 11:15 am
Well, off to play petanque. Tarah!
Saturday the 4th of November, 27 AD.
—Darren Knight
it’s new
it’s also made from
a ceramic called
aluminium oxide, the stuff
missile nose-cones are made of…
it’s also a
and those in the know
about the best
will know they must have it.
not much more one can say really
for further details contact
Big Ears Audio
PO Box 26-358, Auckland
Phone 0-9-379-3801
…AND NOW TO THE LEFT
The good, the bad and the ugly
A C R I T I C A L L O O K AT T H E M A N Y FA C E S O F H I - F I
T
o this day I still don’t know why
people insist on being seen in, let
alone owning a Nissan Violet. (or is
it a Scorpio, wh a tever). They are undeniably, categorically ugly! Bend your mind
just a little and you may well find those
same Violet drivers owning up to more
h orrors from the world of produ ct de s i gn
in and around their own dwellings.
Yep, I can see it now, t h ere’s the brand
new lounge suite with the “hint of sick”
patterned velour uph o l s tery. Ne s t l ed
amongst the velour splendour are the
chromed steel pipe legs of the smoke tinted glass coffee table.
But what is that I see tucked away in the
corner next to the good old K9 tele, could
it be the stereo cen tre? And it is. The man
of the house has made his mark in this
here corner of the lounge, but what an
unsightly mark it is! The rack of com ponents is an unfortunate mix of outcasts
f rom a metal shop together with flimsy
plastic moulded assem bl a ges on ce seen at
a local bazaar in the back blocks of
Kowloon . All this said, and I haven’t even
begun on the poor guy’s loudspeakers!
There are many things made for us consu m er types that really ought to have had
their moulds thrown well clear of any production line. All ow me to consider just a
few com pon ents I feel de s erve everything
they get, and those, of co u rse, that get
everything they deserve.
TURNTABLES
A grin always appears on my face when
I think of the record player made in different co l o u rs. Yes, I do mean the Rega
Pl a n a r, that em b a rrassingly simple de s i gn
has I’m su re graced many sys tems worldwi de not merely on the grounds of sonic
merits. The marriage of plinth, arm and
glass platter personify a clear thinking and
confident design one which I have often
w a n ted to base a second system around
because it is more than a great record player, it is a fine piece of product design.
More often than not I cringe at the
prospect of owning a NAD 5120 turntable.
As a design I find it feeble, flimsy and
ungainly to to u ch , to operation and to
look at. Yes I know it plays records well for
the money but it ain’t this boys cuppa,
especially with the lid up!
C D P L AY E R S
Browsing through an eight year old hifi magazine the other day I came across the
Meridian 207 t wo - box player. The opening lines to the review re ad, “Not only is
The Good:
The Aura Evolution 100 amplifier (above)
and the classic Rega Planar 3 turntable
the 207 indisputably the most elegant
looking CD player around”. My sentiments
exactly.
These elegant looks have been passed
on down to pretty much the entire
Meridian family of electronic components. I’m taken by the mirror bl ack perspex top and the bl end of co l o u red function but tons, their shape, and the mix of
transparent gl a s s - l i ke material with the
almost innocuous grey metal casing, typ ical, s ay of the current 508 player. Aside
from the striking features is the sense of
solidity, of ruggedness and purpose that
each of these products exude in sheer
weight and robust construction. Like the
writer of eight years ago I find favour in
these Meridians, for they are so very, very
elegant.
However, with the good come the not
so good and, wh ere would we be without
a paddle? Up the Creek! Indeed – the Creek
CD60. A player of some musical reward yet
a player cumbersome in its use and
appeara n ce . The frog green display panel
did little for the fla t , l i feless fascia planted
in front of a metal casing sturdy in constru ction but su s pect in finish wh et h er or
not this metalwork should in fact house a
meter box rather than a music making
device.
TUNERS
NAD, in their Monitor Series range
from around 1990, produ ced a disti n ctive
generic design range and its success, I feel,
was largely due to the use of one key element – the colour red. From this range the
NAD 4300 AM/FM Tuner sticks in my
mind as a well proportioned, clearly
labelled and logically laid out radio receiver. Add to the judicious use of red (in lines,
logo and key but tons) the circular station
dial at one end and you have one pleasing
product design.
From a few years earlier, A&R
Cambridge introduced the original Alpha
8
“Jamo Home THX-One Loudspeaker system is a striking,
affordable, room-saving THX-licensed home theatre system
from Europe’s largest loudspeaker manufacturer”
—Electronic Industries Association’s Innovations ’95 Award
Authentic cinema sound in your home
With the Jamo Home THX® Speaker System you experience an authentic recreation
of the sound held on the movie dubbing stage. The sound in your own home theatre
will give you the same thrill as only the very best cinemas are able to deliver.
What you get from the Jamo Home THX® Speaker Systems is not only a THX®
certification. You also benefit from Jamo’s renowned reliability, sound and value for
money, from one of the world’s largest speaker manufacturers.
Audition the Lucasfilm Home THX® Speaker
System from Jamo. Its sound will work wonders for
your favourite films.
For more information, please contact
PO Box 28-314, Auckland. Ph 0-9-302 2271. Fax 0-9-302 2270
Jamo’s THX Speaker
System: LCR One, Sub
One and Surround One
Tuner. Ap a rt from its good sound, this
produ ct has never impre s s ed me ae s t h etically. In fact, the front panel is as pasty
f aced , insipid and pseu do soph i s ticated as
m a ny English gentlemen I have met (I
guess for this reason alone it was a success
in its homeland!). And how feeble the construction? Very feeble I say.
CASSETTE DECKS
I rem em ber being very exc i ted the day
I purchased my first Aiwa F990 tape deck.
Was it a machine to end all machines!
T’was the top of the line and it would do
everything I could ever want and more
f rom a cassette deck. The front fascia
would light up in many colours, at the base
of the panel were the function keys (in
gleaming chrome no less) and the numerous tape types available at the time were
proudly printed across the front with corresponding coloured bars educating me in
where to set my recording levels. Oh yes, I
loved that machine, and it was a machine.
The case was silver grey, the con s tructi on
was certainly substantial and with the
lights of f in the room my Aiwa was better
than a Christmas tree!
Cassette decks that get the thumbs
down? Any deck made that retails for less
than $300!
The Good:
Naim’s IBL
loudspeaker
10
The Good: NAD’s 4300 tuner from their Monitor Series
wedge of a produ ct. It is an athletic, well
Back in 1992, in an up market hi-fi cl o t h ed and be a utifully con s tru cted prodstore in the middle of London, was the uct. With its slanted baffle, the IBL is
first time I cast my eyes on the latest replete with highly ref i n ed timber veneer
Evolution VA100 amplifier from Aura. I finishes including black ash, rosewood and
was attracted to the minimalist aesthetic beech. The contrast in materials bet ween
of the front panel, especially the place- timber veneer, satin black frame stands
m en t , s h a pe and size of f u n ction but ton s . and black foam baffle covers is nothing
The brushed finish of the Aura logo com- less than dramatic. The product design
plemented
the
team at Naim have
gleaming, highly
successfully
proch romed fascia.
du
ced
a
loudspe
a ker
With the lights off my
The construction
that
outwardly
was robust and
ref l ects the character
Aiwa was better than
functions easy to
of the sound born
understand and
from within.
a Christmas tree
use.
One can on ly take
Certainly Aura
a real timber veneer
weren’t the first manu f actu rer to de s i gn a so far and I must disagree with he who
com ponent in a straigh t - forw a rd , austere said, “you can’t have too mu ch of a good
package. One has only to think back to the thing!”. Local spe a ker manufacturers
first of the Creek amplifiers and tuners. Image produce a competent range of loudYet, it is the Aura range of product that has spe a kers. They use quality componentry
t a ken the design into another arena of on the inside with cabi n ets well and truly
consideration with their use of chrome.
s m o t h ered in ri mu ven eer on the out s i de .
Coi n c i dentally, the name Aura stays I do not find fault with the use of a fine
with us as it is the name given to the firs t timber veneer such as the good old native,
of the small amplifier designs to come but I feel Im a ge have failed to exercise
f rom Wellington’s McLaren Au d i o. The design discretion in their obvious aboundMc La ren Au ra I reviewed for AudioVideo ing overuse of rimu, rimu, rimu!
magazine some moons ago now and I Compound the poor exasperated timber
rem em ber gen era lly liking what I heard . I with a box for a spe a ker cabinet and yo u
also rem em ber my disappoi n tm ent in the are left with an underdeveloped article (as
overall external design of the amplifier.
with the McLaren Aura). To me, the
To my mind, this was a product built by a n s wer lies in some con trast and moderaa music lover, a very capable amplifier tion in material use.
designer, but let done immensely by a lack
Undoubtedly, there remain many prodof commitment to the appearance this ucts out there still to be praised on the one
product would take . I would not say the hand and cursed on the other. In future
Aura was ugly, it was merely dressed in op- issues, look for more installments of The
s h op clothes with little fascia design con- Good, The Bad and The Ugly as I spotlight
sideration afforded it.
those pieces of hi-fi product design I consider controversial in their own happy, sad
LOUDSPEAKERS
or indifferent way simply because of the
The Naim Audio IBL loudspe a ker is a way they are dressed!
svel te looking, well proportioned vertical
—Lloyd Macomber
AMPLIFIERS
Quality
The Definition Never Changes
Dynaco CDV-1 Vacuum Tube CD Player
$1299 – 1 year warranty
Dynaco solid-state amplifiers from $1299–2100
Valve amps from $3495–$4200
Preamps from $1199–$1995
Distributed and serviced by Feedback Enterprises Ltd
6 Ashbury Street, Stoke, Nelson
Ph/Fax 0-3-548 4068 or Ph/Fax 0-3-547 6012
Dealer enquiries welcome
CD3 …the naim of the game
for Audiophile CDs and LPs
POPE MUSIC
…and others
Call anytime – phone 0-9-416 4032
fax 09-373 7446
North Hi-Fi, Whangarei 0-9-434 6810 • Shore Hi-Fi, Auckland 0-9-486 4494 •
The Audio Consultant, Hamilton 0-7-843 8436 • Sound Advice, Hastings
0-6-877 8875 • The Real Music Co, Wellington 0-4-385 8353 • Living Sound,
Nelson 0-3-546 8363 • The Top Hi-Fi Shop, Christchurch 0-3-365 2041 •
Express Sounds, Timaru 0-3-688 5755 • Sight & Sound, Dunedin 0-3-477 7071
11
THE SAGACIOUS AUDIOPHILE
Digits and us
MORE THAN JUST A FINGER
H
aving been a contributor to
Au d i o Vi d e o magazine for more
ye a rs than I care to rem em ber, its
demise left a considerable gap in my life.
What was I going to do with my spare
time?
It didn’t take long before the “tweaking
bug” bit and there I was “inch i n g” my
spe a kers around the lounge to confirm
they were indeed in the correct position,
conducting trials comparing balanced and
unbalanced interconnects, brands of
speaker cables and so on.
During this time I re - d i s covered
albums not played for many a ye a r. Each
listening session was like renewing old
friendships. I was listening to music for
sheer pleasure, cert a i n ly not con cerning
myself with how to describe what I was
hearing to readers of Au d i o Vi d e o. Pretty
selfish, huh?
So what ch a n ged this new-found attitude of mine? Digits! Now here is one hell
of an admission from an analogue devotee. Certainly my system is fed a diet of
75–80% CD to around 20% LP, but when
time is available, analogue is my source of
choice.
I am not knocking CD. Indeed my collection gives me a great deal of pleasure
and you sure can’t beat the convenien ce
12
angle. But to my ears, a well recorded LP
produces that bit (no pun intended) more
in areas of natural sound, space and
involvement.
THE DIGIT IN OUR LIVES
which could take adva n t a ge of CDs wi der
dynamic range. The distinguished team at
Meridian were among this gro u p. They
had been working in the digital domain
for some time and their CD players have
received world-wide acclaim from day
one. I rem ember one reviewer de s c ri bi n g
an early Meridian model as “the first musical CD player to come on the market.”
High praise indeed considering the controversy raging at the time over “perfect
sound.”
Just what effect has the humble digit
had on our way of life? In this instance I
refer to any numeral from 0–9, not this
words other meaning, finger or toe.
One of the Oxford dicti on a ry’s reference to ‘digital’
states “of sound
repre s en ted by digI was listening to music
its or in similar disfor sheer pleasure,
c rete form, to
improve quality.”
certainly not concerning
While many co u l d
argue against the
myself with how to
latter, the is no
doubt
digital
describe what I was
recordings stored
on CD have suchearing to readers.
ce s s f u lly invaded
our
listening
Pretty selfish, huh?
rooms.
A DIGITAL LOUDSPEAKER?
A digital loudspe a ker! Who’s kidding
who? Ma ny of us rem em ber the flood of
digital speakers that hit the market not
l ong after CD arrived in 1983. You
k n ew they were digital spe a kers
because the badge on the front told
you so. What a have! Except for this
badge on the front shouting digital,
most of these spe a kers were no different from the same, su pposedly
non digital models on sale a week
earlier.
The way we hear sound hadn’t
ch a n ged overn i ght with the advent
of CD. Twelve years on and our
brains have still not “evolved” to
the stage wh ere they can interpret
a stream of digital code and make
music out of it.
Ma nufacturers, or their advertising agents, were soon bought
i n to line and some changed their
marketing hype to “Digital Re ady.”
Whatever that meant. More honest
s pe a ker designers however, made a
genuine ef fort to produ ce speakers
MERIDIAN DSP
5000
No,
the
Meridian DSP 5000
does produce an
a u d i ble (but meaningless to our ears)
stream of digits. At
first glance they
a ppear to be a conventional,
floor
standing speaker of
compact dimensions, with familiar
drive units located behind the grille. There
any similarities with convention end.
Contained inside each cabinet are three
power amplifiers, one each for treble,
midrange and bass. Nothing new in that –
Meridian and others have been dabbling
with active speakers for ye a rs. The differen ce here is that these spe a kers also contain a digital to analogue converter and a
computer in each cabinet. Also included
on the front, top of each cabinet is an illum i n a ted display (digital of co u rse) to tell
you what settings have been given to the
computer for various functions.
Users of rem o te con trol units (another
digital devi ce) will immed i a tely think of
su ch functions as vo lu m e , balance, trebl e ,
bass, i n p ut sel ecti on , track sel ecti on etc as
being those parameters which can be controlled from the listening position. Indeed
the Meridians are remote controllable in
these are a s , of ten with bet ter re sults than
their competitors eg bass and treble.
Instead of the course cut and boost
applied by most pre amplifier contro l s ,
here the sound is gently altered in keeping
with the way our hearing works. Result,
You can spend
!more money!
but
you cannot buy
better electronics.
MUSICAL
TRUTH
Classé Audio’s devotion to the creation of audio products
of impeccable quality is an approach that an audiophile
magazine recently called “a combination of art and science
(that) exemplifies the best that high-end has to offer.”
Classé Audio has a worldwide reputation for
unsurpassed musical performance, reliability, consistency
and overall musical balance.
Classé Audio products are now available in New
Zealand and backed by one of NZ’s leading audio
distributors. Audition them today at leading hi-fi stores.
Classé DAC-1 and CA-200 power amplifier
For more information please contact
Sound Group Holdings
PO Box 33-791, Takapuna
Ph 0-9-415 6680. Fax 0-9-415 6683
Energy’s Veritas Series represents the uncompromising efforts of some of the world’s finest
loudspeaker designers.
The new Veritas v1.8 incorporates many of
the design breakthroughs found in the flagship
Veritas v2.8 wh i ch has set new standards in
accuracy, image stability and rendition of musical detail.
It represents an extraordinary tech n i c a l
a ch i e vement, rendering performance that is
purely musical.
The new Veritas v1.8 allows music lovers
wo r l dwide to take a step closer to the original
l ive performance in the comfort of their ow n
homes. Hear them today at your nearest authorised Energy dealer.
For more information please contact
Sound Group Holdings
PO Box 33-791, Takapuna
Ph 0-9-415 6680. Fax 0-9-415 6683
13
natural tonal balance at different vo lu m e
levels and com pen s a ting for poor recordings or specific room characteristics.
THERE’S MORE
We all know that most speakers sound
best when placed away from room boundaries (rear and side walls) and, in particular, corners. Positioning them as per a
manufacturer’s recommendation, 1–2
metres in from side walls and 0.5–1 metre
f rom the rear wall can play havoc with
decor and the appeara n ce of our lounge,
which usually doubles as the listening
room.
Thanks to onboard computers, the DSP
5000’s can be set up to overcome most
problems associated with their positioning. All processing being done in the digital domain before the signal is converted
to analogue and fed onto power amplifiers
and speakers.
Another advantage of digital processing is that the listening axis of these speakers can be altered. Many readers will have
ex peri en ced a situ a ti on when standing up
at parties or even when getting up from
your listening chair, the sound seems to be
lacking in treble. It just disappears. In fact
the spe a ker is firing treble con tent of the
music at a level around your navel. Th a t’s
okay when sitting down, but a problem
when upright or even seated on a cushion
on the floor. Treble is directed either too
low or above on e’s head. No problem to
the DSP 5000’s.
O n ce more the computer comes to the
rescue by altering the manner in which a
digital signal is delivered to the power
amp. No there isn’t, as one person suggested, a little motor which alters the tweeter’s
angle up or down. All this is very handy
even when sitting in your usual listening
chair. Mine is slightly higher than most
(more comfortable for my 6' 1'' frame)
wh i ch means my ears are high er from the
floor than yours may be. On those selfish
occ a s i ons wh en I en j oy music on my own
and there is no one else to con s i der, wh a t
pleasure I received from tilting the axis
upwards, even if it was by the smallest
amount possible. Focus, imaging and
stereo width were greatly enhanced.
IS IT A “TOY” OR A BENEFIT?
Technological advances are great if they
benefit the human race. Unfortunately this
isn’t alw ays the case. Here, Meridian with
their DSP 5000’s have got it absolutely
right.
14
1. The DSP 5000’s perform in an
exceptional manner. Clear, detailed
sound with adequate bass weight.
2. The on boa rd com p uters en a bl e
these spe a kers to produ ce a sound
qu a l i ty that is better than most,
irre s pective of room size/con s truction, positioning or listening
The first mass-market digital preamp – NAD’s 118
height.
3. Trialed in three different rooms,
sound could be tailored so as to appear the on board com p uters to en a ble producti on
same in each case.
of exceptional sound quality, the equation
4. Once set up and with music playing, it looks more reasonable.
is very easy to forget the electronics and
do nothing except become invo lved in a D I G I T S A N D U S – T H E F U T U R E
musical experien ce . Even the illu m i n a ted
Where all this will lead? I certainly
displays on the front of each cabinet can don’t know and am certainly not brave
be turn ed off so as not to draw attention enough to predict. But new digital audio
to the fact that the DSP 5000’s are differ- applications are appearing all the time.
ent.
Several amplifier manufacturers have
Everything an audio enthusiast looks announced digital pre amplifiers includfor plus more.
ing NAD. Their Model 118 at approx imately $3,000 being one example.
THE DOWN SIDE
Several manufacturers have been
While the DSP’s accompanying manual experimenting with using digital signal
isn’t as daunting as those supplied with processing (DSP) to try and remove the
your typical computer programme, it is room’s effect on the loudspe a ker, or to
more substantial than the norm. Some remove idiosyncrasies in the drive units.
study is required to fully understand all
Recently I had my first experience of
available functions and arrive at the best CD Plus. An ord i n a ry looking CD wh i ch
set up.
played as expected in the audio system.
All ad ju s tments are made from the Placed in a multimedia computer it was
remote control unit. But, you have to be another story altoget h er. It played music,
qu i ck. The menu, on ce called up on the showed the front cover, titles of songs (any
speakers visual display, reverts back to vol- of wh i ch could be selected with a mouse
ume set ting after a few secon d s . It pays to click) words of songs were displayed
know in adva n ce which but tons you need ( cl i cking the mouse at any line or start of
to push to avoid having to try again.
a chorus had the same effect as fast search
Obviously these spe a kers accept a digi- within a CD track) and heaps of informatal signal only. To play compact discs a CD tion about the artist, composer, arranger
transport unit such as Meridian’s 500 is and back ground mu s i c i a n s . If this wasn’t
requ i red. This qu a l i ty unit will provide a enough, full vi deo covera ge of the perfordigital music signal plus rel ay track and mance was available on screen.
time information for display on the speakThe CD format is being furt h er develers front panels if desired. The ‘digital out’ oped with indu s try agreem ent as to stanconnector on a conventional CD player d a rds for ex tending it to around 17 mega
could also be used, but only for music.
bytes of information. Not that we are likeIf listening to rad i o, tape, video or LP ly to see these double layered, double sided
is among your requirements, the situation discs for a few years yet. However, a digital
is a little more complex. A separa te con- video disc, the same size as a current CD,
trol unit is needed to convert these com- containing 4.7 megs (su f f i c i ent to store a
ponents analogue output to digital so as full length movie, picture and sound) is
to be acceptable to the DSP 5000’s. Just not too far away.
how an LP user would accept his beloved
What other developments are around
analogue being converted to ‘dreaded dig- the corner only time will tell. One thing
its’ and back again I am not sure.
for sure, the digit will continue its invaAt $11,500 a pair many may consider sion of our lives in ways we haven’t even
they are paying an excess for new technol- dreamt of.
ogy. If you consider this pri ce includes
It’s an exciting future.
spe a kers and power amplifiers, plus
—Charles Thomson
ICON mk11
California Audio Labs
Analog performance to please the most critical listener
Now incorporating the Pacific Microsonics HDCD FIR Filter and
hand-selected Burr-Brown 1702 20-Bit processors
Available from:
Listening Post
0-7-886 4149
Soundpower Hi-Fi
0-9-418 4628
Absolute Audio & Vision
0-4-382 9336
Feedback Audio
0-3-548 4068
For more information on the Icon 11 and the California Audio Labs range contact
Oceania Audio Ltd, PO Box 41-085 Auckland. Phone 0-9-849 3114. Fax 0-9-849 3307
in Auckland!
Axent Audio’s Advance range of loudspeakers
feature high-definition, high power-handling
mineral-filled polycone drive units. All
crossovers are computer optimised, acoustic
fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley, and each pair of
cabinets are matched using Axent’s
“Compumatch” program ensuring a superior
soundstage and imaging. All cabinets exhibit
impressive bass performance and are finished
in New Zealand Rimu
• Home Theatre Systems
• Subwoofers
• Custom speaker design
• Repairs and restoration
Shore Hi-Fi are Auckland’s exclusive
Naim stockist.
Come in and see the Naim range of CD
players, amplifiers, tuners and speakers,
along with the very best of European and
Japanese hi-fi and television.
Our brands include: Naim, Arcam, Micromega, Epos,
Royd,TDL, Ruark, Loewe, Rotel, Shahinian,
Harman Kardon, REL and more!
• DIY Speaker kits
• Speaker books and software
• Crossover components
• Grille cloth and accessories
25 Portage Road, New Lynn, Auckland
Ph 0-9-827 1220. Fax 0-9-826 0302
1 Byron Avenue,Takapuna
Ph 0-9-486 4494. Fax 0-9-486 4495
15
EUPHONIC EUPHORIA
DIY-not?
O F C O U R S E I T S O U N D S G R E AT – I M A D E I T !
N
othing is simple any more , but if
you simply want something done
right, do it yo u rself. Can do it
yo u rs elf (DIY) audio equ i pment projects
really surpass the performance and sophistication of all the slick computer-aided
designed or pri cey exotic flash stuff?
Probably not.
It’s not high end where the home
designer builder comes into his own superiority, but smack in the budget pri ce
ranges or areas where a little extra ingenuity and some fiddling around provides a
product or improvement that probably
can’t otherwise be found at any price. It’s
good clean (and dirty) great fun and usually not too costly.
It’s not than any of us are really smarter
or more clever than experien ced design
engineers with powerful com p uter simulati on routines and other serious produ ct
development gear set-ups. No, it’s just that
virtually everything you might purchase is
built to a finely trimmed pri ce . Profit
equals production co s t - c utting which
takes its inevitable toll on the ultimate performance that might be attained.
A major spe a ker manufacturer on ce
told Mr Editor that, “at the ‘s h a rp end’
(under $600/pair) of the market one additional cabinet screw or not meant financial failure or succe s s ! ”. Maybe that was
bean-counter anxiety exaggeration, but
would you worry abo ut how many screws
it takes to tigh ten up a bu d get box floppy
back panel?
HIGH END PERFECTION?
I remember seeing an early big Krell
power amp and stroking its top and giving it a little love pat knuckle rap which
m ade the big metal top panel go “boi n g”.
To the dealer’s irritation, I impulsively
exclaimed, “Wow, what a Krell-bell!”. For
just a few do ll a rs more , they simply must
have been able to re - i n force, rib, brace, or
“whatever” so this beauty co u l d n’t sing
along in one sour note if it was placed near
or ’t ween speakers. Would it com promise
performance by “wh a tever ” fix to literally
tone down its “additional” sonic
abilities? Ma kes you worry about
Tannoy’s old 12'' dual-concentric cone on a re-worked baffle,
that noti on , doesn’t it? And it doe s
and inside the tensioned and braced cabinet
suggest that a little DIY improvement can be requ i red in spite of
costs-be-damned design.
Yes, t h ere are a few excepti on a lly refined devices like the LS3/5a
spe a kers which no amount of
money or diddling around with
could improve upon . Eh? Bi-wi red
vers i ons are better? Active , bu i l t - i n
amplified versions are more
dynamic? Silver wired HF sections?
So improvements on “perfection”
from tweakers aka DIYers are really
worth considering.
T H E PAT I E N C E WA R N I N G
But be warned, and don’t get
overly anxious for tweeters, caps,
re s i s tors and coils like I twice did
f rom MadiSound Speakers and
specify US Air Ma i l , 8lb for
US$47.50. Ouch! Or from SpeakerWorks (San Fra n c i s co) via United
Parcel Air Service (UPS) with 11lb
for a budget killer US$100, plus
NZ$60 customs and duty charges!
16
I simply should have gone to Axent Audio
on Portage Road in New Lynn, Auckland.
But thinking about this is too painful, so
I’ll soldier-on and mention a comparatively easy and satisfying DIY notion that I
tried.
DI VERGENT M ATERIALS
TECHNOLOGY EH?
Looking at the hobbyist magazines and
noticing the two, three, or four–inch thick
front baffles, and elaborate construction
on the pri cey and heavy Avalon, Ha l e s ,
Thiels, Watts and so forth, su gge s ted that
a bit of f a t tening up and bracing of most
anything is a starting point for controlling
u nw a n ted audio energy. I remember a
golden-eared clever bl o ke who very simply wedged a piece of 4x2 scrap wood
between the front and rear panels of his
Lambert 225’s. This, despite raising the
cabinet “Q” higher, subjectively made a
hu ge improvement in the systems overall
sound quality. I irritatingly knew this
because my “identical” 225 pair didn’t
sound any where near as smooth, controlled and clean as his 4x2 braced pair.
Ta n n oy has a considerably more
sophisticated technique for quieting down
re s onant speaker box stru ctu res. Basically,
m a terials of wi dely different den s i ties and
aco u s tic properties (Divergent Ma terial
Tech n o l ogy or DMT) are put together to
minimise tra n s fer and storage of aco u s ti c
energy. In their Professional Studio
Monitor series, a rigid hardwood cage
(frame) holds MDF ch i pboa rd with do uble sided Formica laminate that is affixed
with a non hardening special adhesive .
Tuned bracing, special driver mounting
and I suspect more subtle proprietary
tricks, make up a box that “simply just isn’t
with the progra m m e”. With high amplitude bass and mid frequency input the
main driver and ports can produce
i m pre s s ive hu rricane air gusts wh i l e , even
more impressively, all the enclosure panels
are inert, still, vibration free, and therefore
ideally quiet.
KNUCKLE DRAGGING OR LASER
TRICKS?
With my own old Ta n n oy Gold HPD
12’s in a dreadfully resonant, NZ made
Affordable high-end
(brought to you by Interdyn)
ROTEL
RSP 960AX Dolby Processor
RRP $999
“This one was a dream. Once again, Rotel has come up with an
intelligently designed, cost-effective audiophile component. Hats
off to their engineering team”
High Performance Review
RC 970BX mk2/RB 970BX mk2 pre/power
Amplifiers
RRP $499/$649
“Uncomplicated styling, good sounds and the ability to grow with
your system—Rotel’s affordable pre- power combination gives a
true five star show”
What Hi-Fi
RCD 970BX Compact Disc Player
RRP $999
“…should certainly be on the auditioning list of anyone with this
kind of money to spend”
What Hi-Fi
RA 980BX Integrated Amplifier
RRP $1199
“We have tested a number of Rotel components over the years,
and they have all been excellent performers offering very good
value. The RA 980BX integrated amplifier upholds that tradition,
both sonically and technically”
Sound & Vision
RA 920AX Integrated Amplifier
M&K’s 22 years experience in sub/sat
systems has provided them with the
perfect platform for high performance
music and Home Theatre reproduction.
M&K’s designs incorporate one of the
steepest filter slopes (36dB/octave) in
the industry, which helps create a truly
non-directional sound.
Their internal amplifiers utilise high
current power supplies, to ensure the
subwoofer has plenty of reserve to
draw on during musical peaks. Every
sub comes with RCA and speaker level
connectors to ensure compatibility with
any system. Each subwoofer
incorporates a bass level control and
variable crossover from 50–125Hz for
seamless system integration.
RRP $449
“The bottom line is that the Rotel RA 920AX has its ri vals thoroughly beaten if you just want to enjoy listening to music”
What Hi-Fi
TDL
NFM Bookshelf Speakers
RRP $449
“Quite frankly the best sub-£100 speakers you can buy… we
wish we had a six-star score, for the NFMs are just phenomenal”
What Hi-Fi
RTL 2 Floor-Standing Speakers
RRP $1199
“…a very attractive and listenable speaker at a most attractive
price. It is well worth hearing if you are in the market for a compact, top-notch speaker system that won’t bankrupt you or dominate your home decor”
Stereo Review
RTL 3 Floor-Standing Speakers
RRP $1799
“Their twin bass/midrange drive units and reflex transmission
line design, capable of handling 120W, ensure that bass is
retrieved from 20,000 fathoms deep. And it’s tight and controlled. Regardless of how complex the music becomes, the
TDL’s agility and fast response means they always keep abreast
of event”
What Hi-Fi
PRO-JECT
Pro-Ject 1.2 Turntable (includes Ortofon OM10
cartridge)
RRP $499
from $1099
M&K satellites are equipped with an
adjustable tonal balance which allows
the user to tailor the system for room
acoustics without the use of an eq.
All systems are timbre matched by
utilising virtually identical drivers and
crossovers to ensure the sound is the
same throughout the room.
The use of M&K in the development
of AC-3 (Dolby Digital) meant they were
the first to be proven AC-3 ready. M&K
also produce two systems which are
THX-certified, one of which recently
won the coveted USA Grand Prix
Award.
“Able to suppress surface noise to almost inaudible levels…will
get you re-exploring your record collection, then reward you by
letting you hear plenty you never noticed before”
What Hi-Fi
Pro-Ject 2 Turntable (includes Ortofon OM10
cartridge)
RRP $699
“This deck’s strongest point is its musical coherence and the
sense of sheer rightness about the sound”
Hi-Fi World
Pro-Ject 6.1e Turntable (includes Pro-Ject 4
cartridge)
RRP $999
“…a sparkling performer, digging deep into a records grooves
and bringing out truckloads of detail”
What Hi-Fi Awards
For more information please contact Michael Sherman at
I n t e rnational Dynamics
PO Box 28691, Remuera, Auckland. Ph/fax 0-9-524 8488. Mobile 025-798 260
from $899
For more information please contact
Michael Sherman at
I n t e rnational Dynamics
PO Box 28691, Remuera, Auckland
Ph/fax 0-9-524 8488. Mobile 025-798 260
“Berkeley” floor cabi n et (3 cubic foot IB,
although some Berkeley’s have a bassreflex cut out!) I tried bits of c ross bracing, “quasi”–DMT type panel deadening
and the Epos Spe a kers trick of tightening/tuning box panels inw a rds with
machine screws. I applied the Epos techn i que with hoo k s , fence wire, (Hey! this is
su ppo s ed to be pure Kiwi ingenuity!) and
turnbuckles. The turnbuckles allowed
tigh tening inw a rds as the bracing pushes
out. All this extra commotion stopping
stuff was damped down with plumbers
ad h e s ive asphalt strips. Varying sheets of
different chipboards with different glues
(and Blu-tak) were ad ded to all the ex i s ting panels. The whole sloppy works was
crudely, but patiently, tuned, or more correctly, de-tuned by literally thousands of
knuckle rapping knocks, thocks, thonks,
and thucks.
Next time, I’m renting a laser pointer
and tightly covering the panels with reflective cling wrap, t h en watching and tuning
against the laser reflections as the sys tem
is driven with transient test signals. I’ll
then get a photo-cell collector and feed its
laser sourced panel reflections into an A/D
for delta sigma (difference of sums) ro utine on my computer and then it’s “look
o ut B&W, KEF and all youse guys that’ve
been doing exactly that for decades,
Jo h n ny ’s on the loose!”. But back to the
re a l i ty of my garage butch-carpentry, the
front baffle was “divergent” layered up and
out to 3 inches thickness then covered
with several layers of wool felt for damping HF surface waves over the relatively
large front (19''x29'') surface. Aco u s tic
wadding, normal cro s s over upgrading,
and system resonance with air leak checks
were determined with various test CDs for
the big moment of truth.
HORRIBLE! SPEW!
How did it sound? Boy, was I surprised.
It seemed the whole works died! It seemed
like there was a huge loss of efficiency and
dynamics and the mids and highs sounded thick and dirty. All that knu ckle busting work, right down the gurgler!
But, calm down, me old boyo! Don’t try
c ut ting your wrists with that du lled wool
felt knife, at least not yet. Call your trusted
gurus and ask them what they think is
happening. Robert McAdam from Sound
Creations said the fancy Chatteroux
capacitors take a long time to become
properly formed, hence the loss of dynamics and mid-upper grunge. Ru s s ell
18
F i n n em ore , Pre s i dent of the Audio
Society, said lift it up off the floor
plinth since it was all disappearing
i n to my thick carpet and over
stuffed furniture which probably
compensated for tonnes of the
original cabi n et indu ced nasties. A
couple of days of hard FM interstation noise started the caps forming
and soon the midrange and highs
started clearing up. Then Robert
McAdam came to the rescue with a
stout single pedestal stand. Now
they started sounding much better!
T H AT G O O D ?
Am a z i n gly differen t , mu ch better than I actually hoped at this
stage, but my judgement was tainted by serious wishfullness and anxiety. So when Robert casually said
“they sound like planars, kind of
ESL or Maggie like , quite detailed
and smooth”, I probably breathed
the biggest sigh of relief since I lost
my virginity. Normal installation
tweaks followed and either everyone is too
po l i te , or else dishonest as hell because I
seem to regularly get favo u rable unsolicited opinions about “those big old
spe a kers” f rom both knowledgeable
boffins and non-hobbyist visitors.
BOTTOM LINE
Overall the costs were, $1100 for the
original used mint pair. Then $125 for
Axent’s Brian Hart to delicately replace the
rotted foam surrounds whilst keeping the
original braced paper cones. This was defi n i tely a job for an experienced specialist
with all the fancy solvents, glues, tools and
k n ow how. Any DIY of this type will be
much more costly than air shipping in
small single pack a ge s , so trust me – don’t
even think about it.
The perfect Sound Creation custom
stands were $300. And about $250 for
MDF and composite sheets, wadding, odd
wood bits, felt, glues, c ro s s over components, bro ken saw blades, bro ken screwdrivers etc. And probably close to two
hu n d red hours, mostly fun, mucking
a round pounding my knuckles to oblivion. But I’ve got a $1800 spe a ker pair that
consistently lets me en j oy all kinds of
music. It doesn’t reach the extremes, or
s h ow everything wrong in the record i n g
and probably misses a bit of wh a t’s happening, but they alw ays musically satisfy
me. The gear disappears and you simply
follow the tune, the texture, the tempo,
and it’s never tiring.
THE REAL BOTTOM LINE
Frankly this listenability is probably
due to the inherently correct ef f i c i ent air
coupling of the mid-h/f con centric horn
driver which is perfectly voiced to the nonplastic sounding paper/wool com po s i ti on
cone all sharing a single magnet system.
That I’ve tediously somewhat tamed a raucous enclosure only lets the original excellen ce that was there all along shine
through.
Ta n n oy obviously knew about this
when they started their DMT stuff and I
simply had a great time finding out about
this for myself. That I took the hard way
made it seem more of a profound discovery than a simple application of k n own
principles. But it was all good fun which
has left me with a nice little personally satisfying ach i evem ent that is qu i te va lu a ble
to me and is probably worth bugger-all in
the Trade and Exchange. But that’s hobbyist economics. It’s all for the fun, not the
money.
DIY is really how our great little hobby,
and all the neatest stuff we lust after, started out. So drop us a note if you’ve got a
thought or question about anything
DIYing and we’ll knock it about – I’ve got
“excellent” knuckles.
—John Paul
ALTO:
Where design innovation
meets sonic excellence!
Exceptional both visually and sonically the Alto amplifier
successfully handles many different musical styles with
ease. This charismatic amplifier (and the matching CD
player) are destined to be collectors pieces beyond 2000!
Available now in both black and chrome finish.
ALTO Amplifier (black)
$1299
ALTO Amplifier (chrome) $1499
ALTO CD Player (black)
$1299
ALTO CD Player (chrome) $1499
ALTO amplifiers and CD players
are available from:
Auckland Eastern Hi-Fi
Hamilton Lakeland TV and Stereo
Tauranga Simister Retravision
New Plymouth Masons Appliances
Wellington Absolute Audio and
Vision
Christchurch The Top Hi-Fi Shop
Dunedin Good Hi-Fi
Distributed by
Pacific Audio
PO Box 9171, Auckland.
Phone 0-9-524 8032.
Fax 0-9-524 8037
Remarkable engineering. Unsurpassed clarity. Exceptional value.
Parasound high-current amplifiers combine innovative circuit design
and audiophile-grade components for unparalleled high fidelity sound.
Whether you need a two-channel amp for your listening room, or a
multi-channel amp for your Home Theatre, media room or remote
zone, there is a Parasound amplifier that will provide a strong, high
current foundation that can drive any speaker. All Parasound amplifiers
employ independent power supplies for each channel, fully complementary class A/AB1 circuit topology with JFET input transistors, high
current/high speed output transistors, direct DC servo, and rear panel
gain controls. Gold plated binding posts, tiffany-style RCA jacks, and
rack mounting are standard on all models.
HCA2200
250 watts per channel 8 ohms
400 watts per channel 4 ohms
800 watts per channel bridged
8 ohms
only $4699
Other Parasound amplifiers available now include…
HCA600 60w+60w
$999
HCA1000 110w+110w THX
$1499
HCA1200 205w+205w THX
$2499
HCA806 6x80w multich
$3199
HCA1206 6x135w THX
$4999
HCA2003 3x200w THX
$4199
Stereo Pre-amplifiers and Processors
Parasound pre-amplifiers are all built around the philosophy that less is
more. We keep the signal path as clean as possible, without any capacitors from input to output, and leave all the other extraneous bells and
whistles to the other guys!
PHP850 budget audiophile
$999
PLD1100 audiophile remote
$2199
PLD2000 balanced audiophile
$4999
PSP1000 Dolby Prologic
$1999
PSP1500 THX/digital ready
TBA
THE SHORTEST PATH BETWEEN YOU AND THE MUSIC
CBD2000
Engineers have always known that the ideal connection to audio is a
straight wire. It’s common sense – if you’re trying to transmit audio or
video signals, you want the electronics or loudspeakers to receive all of
the information as accurately as possible. No attenuation or
degradation of that signal is the ultimate goal.
How to go about achieving this goal has become the subject of some
debate. But one premise is now universally accepted – the method of
connection from one component to the other is absolutely critical. It can
mean the difference between good sound and great sound, between a
tainted picture and a flawless one.
For over a decade STRAIGHT WIRE has dedicated itself to the pursuit
of the ultimate in cable technology. Each product is designed and
manufactured to the highest possible standards. Unlike other
companies that build a cable to fit a certain price point, all Straight Wire
products apply the fruits of out most extensive research. Whether
you’re considering a simple upgrade or assembling a no-compromise
reference system, there’s a Straight Wire product that will do the job
better than any other cable you can buy.
Belt Drive Transport
Interconnects…
Speaker Cables…
Concerto
$49/1m
Harmony
$69/1m
Musicable
$99/1m
Flexconnect
$149/1m
Laserlink
$199/1m
Encore
$299/1m
Rhapsody
$399/1m
Maestro
$699/1m
Virtuoso (Gold or Platinum
available by order)
For your nearest dealer contact…
Waveguide 1.5
$6/m
Duo
$8/m
Waveguide 3
$10/m
Flex4
$20/m
Quartet
$30/m
Laser8
$40/m
Sextet
$50/m
Octave
$80/m
Duet
$120/m
Rhapsody, Maestro and Virtuoso
available by order.
Pacific Audio
PO Box 9174 Newmarket, Auckland or Fax 0-9-5248037
$3499
Digital has never sounded
more analog and less digital than with Parasound’s
patented belt drive CD
transport. Jitter is virtually eliminated with the silky smooth belt drive
mechanism coupled with a massive 3⁄4 lb disc clamp. Built by CEC,
known for making the worlds best CD transport.
Other Parasound Digital products
CDP1000 audiophile CD player
$1199
CDC1500 audiophile 5-disc changer
$1499
DAC1100 HDCD D/A Convertor
$2699
DAC2000 HDCD D/A Convertor
$4499
2YEARWarranty
Parts and Labour
Available from…
Auckland Eastern Hi-Fi
Tauranga Simister Retravision
Rotorua Eastern Hi-Fi
New Plymouth Masons
Appliances
Palmerston North Manawatu
TV and Sound
Wellington Absolute Audio and
Vision
Dunedin Good Hi-Fi
Distributed by
Pacific Audio
PO Box 9171, Auckland.
Phone 0-9-524 8032.
Fax 0-9-524 8037
O U R FAV O U R I T E T H I N G S
New Zealand’s top CD players
O U R FAV O U R I T E S – P L U S T H E D E A L E R S P I C K S
T
here has never been a better time to
buy a qu a l i ty CD player. The ra n ge
of great sounding CD players ava i lable in New Zealand has grown over recent
ye a rs, while the pri ce for good sound has
dropped.
To put together this list I polled the
Au d i o En z writing team for their suggestions and threw in a couple of my own. All
of the CD players pictured here can be
heartily recommended at their prices.
But they all sound different, so I urge
you to auditi on a player that interests you
and discuss your requirements and your
existing hi-fi system with a good dealer.
Don’t buy solely on the recom m endati on
of any magazine – not even this one!
—Mike Jones
MERIDIAN
5 0 8 / 3 $5000
Meridian’s top single-box CD player is a
treat, of fering the com bination of lively, yet smooth,
fati g u e - f ree sound. The elegant looks and solid con s truction add to an alluring package.
M A R A N T Z C D - 6 3 and C D - 6 3 S E $699/$999
The Marantz combination finds constant recommendation from dealers – and with good reason. Their inviting sound has invited the CD
players into many hi-fi systems.
W
H
A T
T
H
E
D E
A
L
E
R S
T
H
I
N
K
We asked seven of New Zealand’s top hi-fi retailers what their CD recommendations were – and why
Phil McIsaac – Smiths Sound, Auckland recommended the Marantz CD-46 ($499) as the ideal budget CD
player. “It’s a little cracker… good sound… head and shoulders above others” in its price range. Going up in price to around a
grand, Phil recommends two CD players. The fir s t , the Denon 1015, offers “solid driving bass” and “3D imaging”. The other
great $1000 CD player Phil warmly recommends is the Marantz CD-63SE with its “very open soundstage and good detail”.
Phil sells lots of Arcam CD players and is enamoured with the Arcam Alpha 6 player ($2199), describing it as a “good all
round musical performer”. A particular favourite with Phil is the Denon DCD-3000 ($2500), which Phil describes as “very
musical, good pace rhythm and timing” and as his “all-time favourite”. John Ransley – Totally W i re d , Dunedin
doesn’t mince his words, offering up three recommendations. The Meridian 508/3 ($5000) is the “best CD player by a long
shot; it annihilates everything else.” John’s other top-end CD player is the Linn Karik ($5500) which is a “reliable, beautiful
piece of engineering”. The Micromega Stage 1 ($1600) is gleefully described as a “ filthy French CD player.” John likes its
“French flair and character”, it different operating system and the upgrading path built into the Stage CD players. Dean
Franklin – Soundline Audio, Auckland had just taken delivery of the Accuphase DP-55 ($6500) and couldn’t
stop singing its virtues of its “smooth sound” and “fantastic midrange”. Other recommendations were for the Meridian
508/3 ($5000) and the “upgradable” Micromega Stage 2 ($1899). Jeetan Parbu – Absolute Audio,
Wellington loves the Marantz CD-63SE ($999), stating that not only is it “built like an audiophile player” but also that
the 63SE “competes up to around $2000” in the CD market. Further up in price, Jeetan likes the California Audio Lab
Alpha/Delta transport and convertor ($4890) which he describes as “very affordable for a high-end CD player.” Jeetan likes
20
model sr1200
Quality handcrafted
solid timber storage racks
for
audioVisual and general use.
these racks are the beginning of a range
of quality storage systems designed
for flexibility, usability and aesthetics
rack size 600 x 400
internal shelf size 510 x 400
unique shelf support systems - uses a
no. 5 allen key for adjustment
supplied with each rack.
adjustable spiked feet
model sr900
model sr600
phone 09-8 27 1222 fax 09-8 27 2777
avai lable fro m leading hi-f i speci al ists
A R C A M A L P H A 1 , 5 + a n d 6 $1199, $1799 and $2199
Arc a m’s ra n ge of CD players have alw ays been a safe recomm en d a tion for good, solid sound qu a l i ty. Over the ye a rs Arcam
h ave improved both the sound and build quality. Some models
are upgradable.
MICRO MEGA S TAGE 1, 2
a n d 3 $1599, $1899 and $2450
The Fren ch manufactured
Stage start with a great sounding
CD player at $1599 and can be
easily upgraded as funds and
inclination permit. Superb
sounding with function looks.
N A I M C D 3 $3000
A player with swing – both
in its sound and the unusual
action of the disc drawer. The
CD3 is the starting bl ock for a
full Naim system, yet makes a
very strong case as a standalone CD player.
the “very musical tube D/A convertor”, its “pacey sound” and the way the “music just hangs in there”. The budget choice at
Absolute Audio is the Marantz CD-46 ($499) whose “sound is amazing for the price… not harsh… very musical and detailed.”
Bruce Kirkby – The Top Hi-Fi Shop, Christchurch had several recommendations. The Marantz CD-46 ($499)
makes another appearance. Bruce describes it as a “very good little player with musical credibility” and that it “sounds a cut
above the others”. Bruce also points out that it is very well featured at the price, including a headphone jack with volume control.
The Marantz CD-63 ($699) and Marantz CD-63SE ($999) are “good players at the price” with a “good transport which
leads to upgrading” with an external D/A convertor. The Arcam Alpha 1 ($1199) and Arcam Alpha 5 ($1799) are “well
engineered” with “good market appeal”. Below $1000 Bruce also recommends the Sony 761E ($749) which is “English
designed, well made and featured and with very good sound”. The Rotel 970BX ($999) Bruce describes as “very musical, a
solid player”. The Deltec Renaissance ($3000) is “one of the most refreshing CD players on the marketplace” offering
“incredibly high resolution”. Another favourite at the same price is the Naim CD3. Paul Quilter – The Listening
Post, Tokoroa describes the NAD 502 ($699) as a “fun player”, the way it “bounces along rhythmically” and its “lively
sound without sounding bright”. The Arcam Alpha 1 ($1199) is praised for being “rhythmically right” with “subtlety and
fin e s s e ” with the big tick also given to big brother, the Arcam Alpha 5+ ($1799). Paul also likes the California Audio
Labs Alpha/Delta two-box combination ($4890) for its “openness, space and subtlety” and its “come-hither sound”. John
Vivian – Shore Hi-Fi, Auckland can’t say enough in praise of the Naim CD3 ($3000). The CD3 “offers something
different, both in sound and in the way you use it – it’s a fun product to use”. The Micromega Stage 2 ($1899) “offers good
value for money”. John likes both its sound and that it is easily upgradable. The Arcam Alpha 1 ($1199) is “the beginning of
something very good” and offers good value. The new Rotel 950 ($699) is a “good sounding little machine”.
22
“For people who love fine music and movies”
Now open in Christchurch
at 151 High Street phone 0-3-377 7299
For PROAC, VTL, KRELL and a big range of new and good
used hi-fi and home theatre equipment,
visit one of our stores.
Enjoy a relaxing musical experience, have
a chat, or simply check out what’s new, and
collect a copy of our free newsletter
THE LISTENING POST LTD
PO Box 570, Tokoroa, Facsimile 0-7-886 6851. Toll Free Order Line 0800 80 44 34
Hamilton • Tokoroa • Hawkes Bay • Christchurch
is back on the block
ST Series Hi-Fi Amplifiers
THX Home Theatre Amplifiers
Balancing Art and Science for Musical Integrity
Now available from
Smiths Sound, 587 Mt Eden Road, Auckland
Audio and Vision, 52 High Street, Auckland
20 Year Transferable Warranty – A Generation of Music
Now distributed by: Syntec International. PO Box 68-180, Auckland. Ph/Fax 0-9-358-2525.
23
MIKE ON THE PODIUM
Boy do I have a deal for you!
HOW NOT TO BUY LOUDSPEAKERS
I
f you wanted a new pair of spe a kers,
would you buy them off the back of a
truck?
Don’t laugh – in the last few months
several hu n d red people have done just
that. Bel i eving that they ’ve been of fered a
bargain, buyers have reportedly paid anywhere up to $1500 for a pair of cheap
spe a ker boxes va lu ed by audio experts at
around $400–$450.
For several months I’ve been hearing
abo ut salesmen cruising the streets, looking for punters likely to want a pair of
spe a kers designed to appeal to the “rock
hard” crowd.
By repute, claims were made that the
spe a kers were worth $2000 or more , and
WHO ARE SOUND LAB?
We understand that Sound Lab
New Zealand Limited was registered
in May 1995, with all shares owned by
one Elizabeth Norris. There are two
company directors – Robert Duran,
who appears to run the company; and
Robert Murdoch, based in Hawaii.
If you’d like to get hold of Sound
Labs, they are based at 35a Neil Park
Drive , East Tamaki, Auckland. Their
phone number is 0-9-273 7554.
that they were being used in nightclubs
and recording studios. At first I found it
hard to believe. But as the reports kept
coming in – first from Auckland, then
Wellington, and now Chri s tchurch – the
magnitude of this began to set in.
These spe a kers have been sold under
two brand names – Aco u s tics and Linear
Phase. The importer is Sound Labs, b a s ed
in Auckland.
Selling speakers from the back of a van
or tru ck is not a new ph enom en on overseas. It’s been know in the USA for several
ye a rs , parti c u l a rly around univers i ty campuses. A recent migrant from Australia
told me that the same thing was happening across the Tasman a couple of years
ago. (Interestingly, one of the brand names
used in Australia is the same as one of the
brand names used in New Zealand).
SPEAKER BACKGROUND
New Zealand is well served in terms of
24
hi-fi. For example, there are well over fifty
brands of loudspeakers ava i l a ble – prob ably a higher ratio of spe a kers to population than anywhere else in the world.
The vast majority are imported and
distributed by well established firms. They
support the brands in terms of promotion,
stock availability (so you can actually hear
the product), and back up. If something
goes wrong with your spe a kers, there are
s p a re parts available and the expertise to
repair the speakers.
These speakers are on-sold to ret a i l ers,
either the chain stores or hi-fi specialists.
At these retailers you can see and audition
the spe a kers of your choice. By doing so,
you can ascertain whether the speakers are
appropriate for your musical needs.
“expert witness”.
I watched as Axen t’s Graham Bowers
ran the speakers through Axent’s measurement regime and, while the results were
being computed, we took the spe a kers
apart.
The results were not inspiring. The cabinet was constructed of thin chipboard,
with no bracing. This means that the cabi n et would be prone to vibra te along with
the music, altering the sound considerably.
The drive units were cheap – defin i tely
not what I’d expect from nine years in the
hi-fi industry to find in a spe a ker reputably worth $2000, or even $1000.
FIFTE EN MI NUTES OF FAME
Recen t ly the television consumer programme Fair Go investigated this practice.
I was invited along to Auckland’s Axent
Au d i o, a drive unit and spe a ker testing
specialist, to observe the measuring and
dismantling of a pair of Linear Phase
spe a kers, and to be interviewed as an
Fair Go’s Raewyn Rasch: “Don’t buy them!”
Frequency response of the tested
Linear Phase 8812/8 speaker
I asked a mem ber of the hi-fi indu s try
familiar with driver manufacture what the
ex-factory cost for the drive units wo u l d
be. The estimate was around $10 per
speaker, ex-factory.
The measurements carried out by
Axent Audio were no more inspiring.
From around 700Hz upwards, the frequ ency responses – which ideally should
be flat – were a series of peaks and troughs.
The loudspeakers were rated at a sensitivity of 92dB and had a rated power handling of 250 watts.
The first is an important factor. The
higher the sensitivity, the less power needed to reach a certain volume level. A speaker with a sensitivity of 92dB needs only
half the power to re ach the same vo lume
level as a spe a ker with a sensitivity of
89dB.
According to Axen t’s measurements,
the Linear Phase spe a ker under test
re ached a sensitivity of 88.3dB from
250Hz to 1kHz, with the sensitivity over
other frequency bands being lower still.
This means that the spe a ker will requ i re
twi ce as mu ch power as a tru ly 92dB sensitive loudspe a ker to reach the same vo lume level.
S u b w o o f e r s
A Tradition Of Excellence
Sound So Real
Yo u C a n F e e l I t
Many subwoofers on the market exceed
30%
distortion between 30Hz–40Hz.
Velodyne’s patented servo technology samples the physical movement of the cone 3600
times a second, resulting in the removal of the
harmonic frequencies and allowing the fundamental frequency to be reproduced at less
than 1% THD (total harmonic distortion).
Available in Foundation and ULD series.
The result is a clean, dynamic, detailed bass
which will enhance any Home Theatre or
Stereo System.
For years audio manufacturers have fought
for low distortion amplifiers; why then introduce distortion into your hi-fi systems?
Judge for yourself, listen to the midrange
when auditioning a subwoofer (as the 1/3rd
harmonic of 30Hz is +/– middle C) a low distortion Velodyne will not effect the midrange.
The subwoofer frequencies 20Hz–40Hz will
add to the environment of sound and you
should feel the bass!
McIntosh Laboratory Inc. of Birmingham, New York has
been manufacturing sophisticated high quality audio
equipment since 1949.
This history of success indicates a long term consistency in
company philosophy for producing only the best.
Thousands of McIntosh owners have described McIntosh
with one word, Quality.
McIntosh products are always designed for both superior
performance and long operating life. It is typical for a
listener to enjoy the performance of a McIntosh system for
many trouble free years, while those who choose other
brands may go through several different complete systems
during the same time.
McIntosh products have always maintained similar
appearance designs. As new models are added, significant
performance improvements are made.
Appearance upgrade of even the newest model is
unmistakably Classic McIntosh.
Whether your interest lies with hi-fi stereo, home theatre
or keypad controlled multi-room audio, McIntosh’s
expertise over 47 years can well serve your lifestyle.
McIntosh components are proudly distributed by
PO Box 28-314, Auckland. Ph 0-9-302 2271 Fax 0-9-302 2270
PO Box 28-314, Auckland. Ph 0-9-302 2271 Fax 0-9-302 2270
A LT E R N A T I V E C H O I C E S
So what could you buy instead of speakers below the prices paid for the Acoustics and
of f the back of a tru ck . There are a nu m- Linear Phase speakers.
ber of alternatives aimed at the same “rock
While I was being intervi ewed for Fair
hard” market – some of them considerably Go, standing ei ght feet away from me was
a pair of large, floor-standing spe a kers
from Wharfedale with three woofers and a
t weeter. The Wharfedale Valdus 500’s (the
larger speaker, pictured left) retail for only
$999. The slightly smaller Wharfedale
Va l dus 300’s (in front) normally retail for
$799.
American speaker brand Infinity have a
high efficiency range called the Studio
Monitor Series, some of which are very
s en s i tive (they don’t need mu ch power to
go loud) and have high power handling.
From the 102 model ($799) upw a rds the
SM range have larger models, including
the massive 152, with its 15'' woofer and
102dB sensitivity ($1899).
Another range aimed at this market are
the Celestion Impacts. The larger models
range from the Impact 23 at $949 to the
Impact 35 at $1599.
And no discussion of noi s e - m a kers
would be complete without mention of
the colourful Cerwin-Vega! range.
AudioVideo
August 1995
Shahinian Arc speakers, Audiolab 8000T tuner, Energy RVS home theatre
speakers, Arcam Delta 290 amplifier, Wharfedale Modus One-Three speakers,
Rotel RCD-980BX CD player, Epos ES25 speakers, Near 10M speakers
June 1995
Harman Kardon Festival system, Deciphering THX article, JPW home theatre
speakers, Kenwood THX amplifiers, Aura CD50 CD player, Nakamichi DR3
cassette deck, California Audio Labs DX-1 CD player, Paradigm 5se mk2
speaker
April 1995
Jamo 707 speaker, Akai G715 Nicam VCR, Tannoy 632 speaker, Harman
Kardon 7525 CD player, Marantz CD63SE CD player, Micromega Stage One
CD player, Boland BTX100S speaker, Plinius SA-100 mk2 amplifier, Totally
Wired dealer profile
February 1995
Castle Howard speakers, Creek 4240 amplifier, Pioneer PD-S703 CD player,
Sony CDP-715 CD player, Marantz CD63 CD player, Technics SL-PS840 CD
player, Judds Hi-Fi Source dealer profile, Yamaha TX-480 and TX-950RS
tuners, Rogers LS8a mk2 speakers, Polk LS home theatre speakers, Energy
Excel speakers, Paradigm Atom speakers
December 1994
Products of the Year, Arcam Alpha One and Alpha 5 Plus CD players, Nuance
Advantage 3.3 speakers, Strawberry Sound dealer profile, NAD system, Kef
Q30 speakers, Plinius SA-50 amplifier
October 1994
Pioneer CT-95 cassette deck, The terrible truth about Nicam, ProAc Studio 100
Axen t’s Graham Bowers esti m a tes that
the speaker under test would have a power
handling of around 60 watts.
Combine these two factors and what do
you have? Ma ny people buying these
speakers are under the impression that the
spe a kers will del iver high sound levels of
music for long periods. The measurements
suggest that the speakers will not.
S H O U L D YO U B U Y A PA I R ?
Once upon a time in New Zealand –
not too many ye a rs ago, actually – it was
difficult to find qu a l i ty hi-fi gear. Severe
import re s trictions made hi-fi rare and
expensive.
Tod ay there is a huge range of hi-fi
product available in New Zealand at all
pri ce ranges. They have full warranties
that are easy to access – and distributors
and retailers often go the extra mile to satisfy customers. They are available from
retail out l ets that wi ll be there tom orrow.
So should you buy a pair of speakers from
the back of a truck? As Fair Go’s Raewyn
Rasch said, “Don’t do it!”.
—Mike Jones
back
issues
speakers, Technics SL-PG440 CD player, Denon DCD-615 CD player, Pioneer
PD-203 CD player, Marantz AV500 Pro-Logic preamp, B&W DM610i speakers
reprised, Harman Kardon HD7725 CD player, Eight budget headphones
August 1994
Widescreen TV, Philips 32FL2881 TV, NAD 306 amplifier, Marantz CDR-610
recordable CD player, B&W DM610i speakers, Denon PMA350II amplifier, The
Sound Room dealer profile,Perreaux EP3 and EP100 amplifiers, NAD 910
Dolby processor
June 1994
Pioneer PD-77 CD player, Sony CDP-CX100 100-disc CD changer, Harman
Kardon HK1400 amplifier, Soundline Audio Christchurch dealer profile,
Subwoofers, Energy AS90 subwoofer, JBL Paragon speakers
Complete 1992, 1993 and 1994 back issues available (six issues per year).
Back issues are $3 each (sorry – no credit cards). Send with payment to:
AudioVideo, PO Box 100-554, Auckland 10.
Please send me the following back issues of AudioVideo. I enclose
$3 for each issue
Name
Address
ARCAM
B R I T I S H D E S I G N E D A N D B U I L T C D P L AY E R S , A M P L I F I E R S , T U N E R S A N D H O M E T H E AT R E
A M P L I F I E R S S O E X T R A O R D I N A R Y T H AT T H E Y E V E N S O U N D G O O D O N PA P E R
ARCAM ALPHA ONE CD PLAYER $1199
ARCAM XETA ONE $3999
For: Confident and mature sound with no lack of attack
Against: Nothing – the Arcam is a perfect match and hard to fault.
Verdict:
What Hi-Fi?
“But though the Xeta matches the Delta 290 amp for sound quality when you
run a CD through it, it’s on Pro-Logic sound quality that it’s likely to be
judged. The Xeta has an exceptionally clean, crisp sound… A wide range of
movies from The Abyss to The Patriot Games went through the video during
this test and the Arcam displayed excellent channel steering, easily intelligible dialogue and no shortage of serious bass weight.
Verdict:
Sound
Build
Facilities
Value
What Hi-Fi?
March 95
“Best Home Cinema Amplifier” British Hi-Fi Awards 1995
ARCAM ALPHA 5 PLUS CD PLAYER $1799
“Best CD Player under £500.” The British Hi-Fi Awards 1995
For: Better bass, improved treble over old Alpha 5
Against: Nothing
Verdict:
What Hi-Fi?
ARCAM DELTA 270 CD PLAYER $2999
For: A skilled balance between smoothness and punch. Well built
Against: Not much apart from cost
Verdict:
What Hi-Fi?
ARCAM ALPHA 5+ AMPLIFIER $999
“The Alpha 5’s excellent clarity and middle and low frequencies meant that
the cello was able to cut through the densest texture – at the same time it was
beautifully smooth and free from grain and glare.” Audiophile
ARCAM ALPHA 6+ AMPLIFIER $1299
“The extra power output of the Alpha 6 is quite small nut it does sound gutsier than the 5 at any volume level. Its extra resolution makes it consistently
more detailed and articulate, enhancing the feeling of power and projection.”
Audiophile
ARCAM DELTA 290 AMPLIFIER $1799
“The Arcam is a true high-end product and a legitimate rival rival of the ClassB ranked Acurus A-100, offering a much cleaner midrange and a more neutral tonal balance …in the truest testimony to its easy superiority, the Arcam
was the one I chose to listen to when I just wanted to listen to my fave recordings.” Stereophile
THE
ALLURE
SMITHS SOUND HI-FI HOUSE
587 MT EDEN ROAD, AUCKLAND. PHONE 623-2600. FAX 638-8888
Where Sound decisions are made.
The Allure is 93dB efficient and
works wonderfully well on both
tube and transistor amplifiers.
“One thing the Allure does have in
abundance is coherence… from top
to bottom the Allure is about as
smooth and balanced as they
come… They are a wonderfully
involving and revealing transducer,
capable of long-term musical
enjoyment no matter what style of
music your mood may ask for”
—Fi, March 1996
Sonique - Audio Synergy - DH Labs - Micrex - ACi - Teac/Esoteric - Unison Research - Lamm Audio Laboratory - Papworth Audio Technology - Unicone - Swan Speaker Systems
Transline Audio. Phone/Fax 0-7-578 5211
27
INCREDIBLE SOUND,
AFFORDABLE PRICE…
FOR MUSIC AND MOVIES!
5 year
Now there’s a Polk Audio
speaker for everybody!
Over 30 models available
– there’s one here for you!
parts and labour
warranty
Matthew Polk
Chairman, Polk Audio
Polk Audio RT16 – just one of a superb range that includes…
Mini Monitor
$399 LS50 Floorstanding
$1999
RT3 Bookshelf
$499 LS70 Floorstanding
$2999
RT5 Bookshelf
$699 LS90 Floorstanding
$3999
RT7 Bookshelf
$899 LSfx Surround Sound $1199
RT8 Floorstanding
$999 AB410 In-Wall
$399
RT10 Floorstanding
$1299 AB610 In-Wall
$599
RT12 Floorstanding
$1699 AB505 In-Wall
$699
RT16 Floorstanding
$1999 AB705 In-Wall
$899
RTfx Surround Sound
$999 AB805 In-Wall
$1399
M3 Surround Sound
$599 AWM3 All Weather
$699
RM2000 Satellite
RM3000 Sat/Subwoofer
RM5000 Sat/Subwoofer
RM7000 Home Theatre
CS150 Centre Speaker
CS200 Centre Speaker
CS250 Centre Speaker
CS350 Centre Speaker
PSW100 Subwoofer
AWM5 Commercial
SRT Home Theatre sys.
$999
$1999
$2199
$2799
$399
$499
$599
$899
$1399
$999
$19000
Polk Loudspeakers are available from:
Whangarei – Hubands Retravision • Auckland – Eastern Hi-Fi, Link Drive and Newmarket • Thames –
Advanced Audio • Hamilton – Lakeland TV and Stereo • Tauranga – Simister Retravision • Whakatane –
The Electricity Centre • Rotorua – Eastern Hi-Fi • New Plymouth – Masons Appliances • Palmerston
North – Manawatu TV and Sound • Wellington – Absolute Audio and Vision • Nelson – Tasman Energy •
Christchurch – The Top Hi-Fi Shop • Dunedin – Good Hi-Fi • Cromwell – Gary Anderson Appliances
Polk Audio was founded in 1972 by
Matthew Polk and George Klopher.
Their dream was to make speakers with
the performance of the world’s best and
costliest speakers, but at a reasonable
price.
They did so by applying scientific
principles to speaker design and by
concentrating solely on the speaker
business.That’s why Polk is still known
as “The Speaker Specialists”.
Today Polk are one of the world’s
largest manufacturers of Home and Car
loudspeakers and their research and
development has yielded over 20
patents for advances in loudspeaker
performance and value.
Polk speakers have earned high
praise from the worlds Hi-Fi press as
well as dozens of awards for innovative,
high quality design.
If you are considering investing in a
new pair of speakers or are looking at
Home Theatre you really should audition a Polk Audio speaker system. From
$399 right up to the $19,000 SRT Home
Theatre systems, you won’t find a better
speaker for your money.
Distributed by
Pacific Audio
PO Box 9171,Auckland.
Phone 0-9-524 8032. Fax 0-9-524 8037